Sports Briefs

AGENCIES

■ SoccerTrezeguet sparks Juventus

David Trezeguet scored twice on Saturday to lead Juventus to a 2-0 win over Piacenza in Italy's Serie B. Trezeguet combined with fellow striker Alessandro Del Piero for both goals, heading in the veteran's cross in the 30th minute and deflecting his free kick 15 minutes later. "The important thing is the win," said Trezeguet, who has scored five of Juventus' nine goals in its past three matches. "We're still a long way behind but we're on the right road." Juventus now has minus four points after being relegated to the second division with a 17-point penalty for its leading role in a match-fixing scandal. The Turin powerhouse hosts Serie B leader Brescia next Sunday.

■ Rugby Union

US thumps Uruguay

Winger Jeff Hullinger claimed a hat trick of tries as the US defeated Uruguay 42-13 in Montevideo in an Americas regional playoff qualifier for the Rugby World Cup on Saturday. Uruguay's Teros must win the return leg by more than 29 points next Saturday at Stanford, California, to qualify for World Cup Pool A beside England, South Africa and Samoa. The loser will have another chance to qualify in a repechage with a European or African team. The Eagles rallied from 13-3 down minutes before halftime. Winger Paul Emerick scored the first of the US' five tries right on halftime to help close the gap to two points. While Uruguay flanker Hernan Ponte was sidelined by a yellow card, Hullinger scored his first try in the 55th minute to give the US its first lead of the match. US flanker Todd Clever also crossed moments later, and from then on the result was beyond doubt before 8,000 fans at Parque Central.

■ Cricket

Lara confident of qualifying

West Indies captain Brian Lara says he's confident his team will feature in the Champions Trophy after being forced to qualify for the limited-overs cricket tournament. "We have to play three games to qualify, that is unfortunate," Lara told a news conference yesterday. Despite being the tournament's defending champion, the West Indies joins Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in qualifying for the Oct. 15-Nov. 5 Champions Trophy in India, with the top two teams advancing. "I am sure the guys in the team will go and play their best," Lara said. "If we can't get past Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, then we are suffering." The West Indies plays its first qualifying match against Zimbabwe in Ahmedabad on Oct. 8. Lara said the West Indies would draw on inspiration from its status as title holder. "It is a nice feeling to know that we are the defending champions. It also brings its pressures with it," he said.

■ Tennis

Nicolas Lapentti advances

Nicolas Lapentti beat Spain's Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo 6-2, 6-1 on Saturday to reach the final of the Campionati Internazionali di Sicilia in Palermo, Sicily. Lapentti broke the eighth-seeded Spaniard six times and won 95 percent of points on his own first serve to win in 1 hour, 2 minutes. The 30-year-old Ecuadorean, who was once ranked sixth, was to play second-seeded Filippo Volandri in yesterday's final. Volandri advanced to his third-straight Palermo final when Spain's Nicolas Almagro retired with an ankle injury while trailing 6-0, 2-1. The Italian, who lost in 2004 and last year, broke the fourth-seeded Almagro's serve three times to take the opening set in 27 minutes. Almagro retired after aggravating an injury.